Average power rating of opponents played: CINCINNATI 19.2, CHICAGO 20.6

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

CINCINNATI - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

9/8/2013

@ CHICAGO

9/16/2013

PITTSBURGH

9/22/2013

GREEN BAY

9/29/2013

@ CLEVELAND

10/6/2013

NEW ENGLAND

CHICAGO - Season Results

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Team Stats

Opp Stats

Date

Opponent

Score

SU

Line

ATS

Tot.

O/U

Rushing

Passing

TO

Rushing

Passing

TO

9/8/2013

CINCINNATI

9/15/2013

MINNESOTA

9/22/2013

@ PITTSBURGH

9/29/2013

@ DETROIT

10/6/2013

NEW ORLEANS

KEY GAME INFORMATION

CINCINNATI: The Bengals have grown into offensive coordinator Jay Gruden's zone-blocking scheme nicely. Their offensive line, one of the NFL's best, should continue to improve this season. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should continue to take the majority of the work on first and second down. Rookie Giovani Bernard will be a change-of-pace and passing down back, although he could end up sharing that role with fellow rookie Rex Burkhead, who's considered to be more advanced in pass protection.
Gruden runs a West Coast offense, but it's a passing game that attacks downfield much more aggressively than most WCOs. Andy Dalton is a shaky decision maker with accuracy that comes and goes, but his willingness to let A.J. Green make plays in traffic is what makes this offense go. Green does most of his work on the perimeter and deep. The second read is usually slot receiver Andrew Hawkins, and they run some designed plays to get TE Jermaine Gresham the ball. Their No. 2 receiver is rarely used, and Bernard figures to be the only back that does more than pass protect. The Bengals were balanced in the red zone last year, including a 50/50 run/pass split in goal-to-go situations.
This underrated defense placed sixth in the NFL in total defense (320 YPG allowed) and ranked third in the league with 51 sacks, thanks to DT Geno Atkins (12.5 sacks) and DE Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks). In the second half of 2012, the Bengals allowed a paltry 12.8 PPG with 19 forced turnovers and three defensive touchdowns. New OLB James Harrison is familiar with AFC North opponents, and will help groom young LBs Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga. The strong front seven allows the secondary to go after the football, collecting nearly as many INT (14) as TD passes allowed (16) last year.

CHICAGO: New offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer coached the line and running backs during his tenure in New Orleans (he'll also coach the O-Line this season), and the Saints ran a sophisticated and versatile running scheme. Expect both man and zone blocking from the Bears, and they'll likely be running out of spread looks much more often than last year. Matt Forte is still the lead rusher, and he'll stay on the field on third downs as one of the league's best passing down backs. Michael Bush will spell him and take a third of the workload, including the majority of short-yardage runs and goal-line carries.
New head coach Marc Trestman will run an offense more like what Jay Cutler ran in Denver. They'll use a lot of spread looks with more quick-hitters, short hitches and slants. Brandon Marshall is the primary target, a possession receiver who does most of his work facing the line of scrimmage. Alshon Jeffery will likely work underneath a little bit more in his second season. Slot receiver Earl Bennett should see an uptick in reps, though he's been marginalized by Marshall. TE Martellus Bennett will likely get the chance to flex out more, and Forte will catch plenty of screens. The Bears figure to lean heavily on the backs in the red zone, and when they do throw, Cutler usually force-feeds Marshall.
New defensive coordinator Mel Tucker won't tinker much with this defense that led the NFL with 44 takeaways, including eight pick-sixes. DE Julius Peppers (111.5 career sacks) is still a menace, CBs Tim Jennings (NFL-high 9 INT) and Charles Tillman (10 FF, 3 TD) are outstanding, and 24-year-old SS Major Wright (4 INT) is a rising star in this league. New MLB D.J. Williams is a suitable replacement for the retired Brian Urlacher, working alongside accomplished WLB Lance Briggs and new SLB James Anderson.